The first quarter of a new Genesee County emergency dispatch communication system is in the books and officials say it’s been busy and improving.

During a departmental review at Monday’s Public Service Committee meeting, Sheriff Gary Maha said dispatchers took in 6,500 emergency calls to 911 and another 25,000 nonemergency calls, while also now taking on calls for State Police.

There have been glitches but Sheriff Maha says there are being worked out. He said dropped transmissions are down 8 percent from a month ago to less than 1 percent now.

The system has been integrated under a tight deadline and won’t be fully functional until three other towers in the county are completed.

The Sheriff’s Office has also been busy with prison transports.

Because the Genesee County Jail can’t house female inmates and other closer cells have run out, deputies have to transport them to Wayne or Allegany counties.

This year there have been 465 transports which can take up a deputy’s entire eight-hour work day. However, with the jail nearly fully-staffed and an average of five fewer inmates a day, the jail has spent $26,000 less on overtime than last year.